May I ask a question about Ashura please?

[HironsBirons]

What do you do on Ashura? I’m working for a new company, the owner is Muslim and is closing for a day next week to mark Ashura. I’ve googled and still can’t seem to quite figure out what goes on. Do you go somewhere, or have specific things to carry out to mark it?

Many thanks.

Sunni Muslims fast. It is a day to commemorate God splitting the sea and saving Moses (peace be upon him) and the Israelites from death at the hands of Pharoah. SO they fast, ask for forgiveness, remember God etc. It isn't a festival though so nothing 'special' happens, unless people get together to break their fast. In Muslim countries it's a normal working day, so not sure why your colleague wants to close for it.
ETA: shia Muslims do treat it as a day of mourning, so I wonder if that is the case here?

Because they are shia muslims?! It's a huge period of mourning and remembrance for them

Hello/ Salaam,

Ashura is the 10th day of Muharram (which is the first month in the Islamic calendar)

During the first ten days of Muharram many Muslims remember the family of the prophet Muhammed (PBUH), in particular, his grandson Hussain who was massacred along with most male descendents of the prophet, alongside a few companions.

Ashura is the culmination of these ten days as the battle of Karbala (a place in modern-day Iraq) took place on the10th Muharram.

If your business is closed, it is likely that they are shia Muslim because this day is usually commemorated as a day of mourning within the shia community. All regular business stops in remembrance of Hussain.

Sunni muslims fast on that day. Ashura this year falls on Tuesday but we normally keep two fasts. Either Monday and Tuesday or Tuesday and Wednesday. There are many virtues mentioned for fasting on this day and it was recommended to do so by the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him as this was the day that the Prophet Moses peace be upon him and his people were freed from pharaoh.

Many thanks for your replies! I like to educate myself on their religion and culture as much as I can

The business will be closed to commemorate the death of Imam Hussain AS on 10th Muharram which falls on Wednesday this coming week.

On this day Shias spend the whole day in mourning and remembrance of the grandson of our beloved Prophet Mohammed PBUH. We remember the 72 family members and companions who were massacred on the plains of Karbala and the sacrifice of Hussain in the name of his grandfather's religion. Thank God for Hussain and his battle against the misguided mutilation of Islam.

Very well said.

👍👍👍

www.whoishussain.org